A method and system for multi-modal communication has a terminal (102) with at least one input component (108) and at least one output component (112) coupled to a gateway (104) having a dialog manager (114). The system and method further has a content server (106) coupled to the dialog manager (114) wherein the content server (106) provides the dialog manager (114) with an encoded control command. Moreover, at least one input component (108) and at least one output component (112) are coupled to a control unit (110). The dialog manager (114) decodes the encoded control command, producing and providing a decoded control command to the control unit (110). In response to the decoded control command, the control unit (110) modifies at least one of the input components (108) and/or at least one of the output components (112).